EFTA00014985.pdf
760 KB
Extraction Summary
3
People
3
Organizations
6
Locations
8
Events
3
Relationships
5
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Indictment
File Size:
760 KB
Summary
This document is an indictment from the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, charging correctional officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas. It alleges that on August 10, 2019, the defendants failed to perform mandated prisoner counts and signed false certifications, leading to Jeffrey Epstein's suicide remaining unobserved at the Manhattan Correctional Center (MCC). The indictment also details Epstein's prior apparent suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, which Michael Thomas responded to.
People (3)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| TOVA NOEL | Defendant, Correctional Officer |
Alleged to have failed to perform mandated prisoner counts and signed false certifications at MCC; discovered Jeffrey...
|
| MICHAEL THOMAS | Defendant, Correctional Officer (formerly Materials Handler Supervisor) |
Alleged to have failed to perform mandated prisoner counts and signed false certifications at MCC; discovered Jeffrey...
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| Jeffrey Epstein | Inmate |
Arrested on sex trafficking charges, detained at MCC, assigned to SHU, apparent suicide attempt on July 23, 2019, com...
|
Organizations (3)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK |
Jurisdiction for the indictment.
|
|
| Manhattan Correctional Center (MCC) |
Federal administrative detention facility where defendants were employed and Epstein was incarcerated.
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| Bureau of Prisons (BOP) |
Agency that runs the MCC.
|
Timeline (8 events)
August 10, 2019
TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS discovered the body of Jeffrey Epstein, who had committed suicide while unobserved earlier that morning.
MCC
August 10, 2019, 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
August 9, 2019, 10:30 p.m. to August 10, 2019, 6:30 a.m.
No correctional officer conducted any count or round of the SHU. TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS allegedly sat at their desk, slept, browsed the internet, and signed false certifications.
SHU, MCC
July 10, 2019
Jeffrey Epstein assigned to the SHU due to risk factors for suicidality and safety concerns.
SHU, MCC
July 23, 2019
MCC officers, including MICHAEL THOMAS, responded to an emergency call in the SHU and found Jeffrey Epstein on the floor of his cell with a strip of bedsheet around his neck (apparent suicide attempt). Epstein subsequently transferred to suicide watch in the hospital wing.
SHU, MCC hospital wing
July 6, 2019
Locations (6)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Federal administrative detention facility in Manhattan.
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|
Specific unit within the MCC where Epstein was housed and where defendants were assigned.
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MCC's centralized control center for remote access to SHU and where count slips are delivered.
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Location of the SHU within the MCC.
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Location where inmates assigned to suicide watch are housed.
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Location of federal crimes and where Epstein was detained pending trial.
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Relationships (3)
Alleged to have acted together in failing to perform duties and discovering Epstein's body.
NOEL was on duty when Epstein died and discovered his body.
THOMAS was on duty when Epstein died, discovered his body, and responded to his prior apparent suicide attempt.
Key Quotes (5)
"On or about August 10, 2019, TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS, the defendants, while on duty as correctional officers at the Manhattan Correctional Center ("MCC"), repeatedly chose not to do mandated counts of prisoners under their watch in the MCC's special housing unit ("SHU"). Instead, for substantial portions of their shifts, NOEL and THOMAS sat at their desk, slept, and browsed the internet."Source
EFTA00014985.pdf
Quote #1
"To conceal the deliberate dereliction of their responsibilities, NOEL and THOMAS repeatedly signed false certifications attesting to counts of inmates they never did."Source
EFTA00014985.pdf
Quote #2
"As a result of the defendants' conduct, no correctional officer conducted any count or round of the SHU from approximately 10:30 p.m. on August 9 until approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 10, at which time, as alleged herein, NOEL and THOMAS discovered the body of an MCC inmate, Jeffrey Epstein, who had committed suicide while unobserved earlier that morning."Source
EFTA00014985.pdf
Quote #3
"Jeffrey Epstein was incarcerated at the MCC between his arrest on July 6, 2019, and his suicide on August 10, 2019. Epstein was detained pending trial in the Southern District of New York on sex trafficking charges."Source
EFTA00014985.pdf
Quote #4
"On July 23, 2019, while housed in the SHU, MCC officers responded to an emergency call, and found Epstein on the floor of his cell with a strip of bedsheet around his neck."Source
EFTA00014985.pdf
Quote #5
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (6,615 characters)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- v. -
TOVA NOEL, and
MICHAEL THOMAS,
MICHAEL THOMAS,
Defendants.
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INDICTMENT
19 Cr.
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The Grand Jury charges:
INTRODUCTION
1. On or about August 10, 2019, TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL
THOMAS, the defendants, while on duty as correctional officers at
the Manhattan Correctional Center ("MCC"), repeatedly chose not to
do mandated counts of prisoners under their watch in the MCC's
special housing unit ("SHU"). Instead, for substantial portions
of their shifts, NOEL and THOMAS sat at their desk, slept, and
browsed the internet. To conceal the deliberate dereliction of
their responsibilities, NOEL and THOMAS repeatedly signed false
certifications attesting to counts of inmates they never did. As
a result of those false statements, the MCC believed prisoners in
the SHU were being regularly monitored and accounted for when, in
fact, as a result of the defendants' conduct, no correctional
officer conducted any count or round of the SHU from approximately
10:30 p.m. on August 9 until approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 10,
the Manhattan Correctional Center ("MCC"), repeatedly chose not to
do mandated counts of prisoners under their watch in the MCC's
special housing unit ("SHU"). Instead, for substantial portions
of their shifts, NOEL and THOMAS sat at their desk, slept, and
browsed the internet. To conceal the deliberate dereliction of
their responsibilities, NOEL and THOMAS repeatedly signed false
certifications attesting to counts of inmates they never did. As
a result of those false statements, the MCC believed prisoners in
the SHU were being regularly monitored and accounted for when, in
fact, as a result of the defendants' conduct, no correctional
officer conducted any count or round of the SHU from approximately
10:30 p.m. on August 9 until approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 10,
EFTA00014985
at which time, as alleged herein, NOEL and THOMAS discovered the
body of an MCC inmate, Jeffrey Epstein, who had committed suicide
while unobserved earlier that morning.
body of an MCC inmate, Jeffrey Epstein, who had committed suicide
while unobserved earlier that morning.
RELEVANT INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES
2. The MCC is federal administrative detention
facility located in Manhattan that is run by the Bureau of Prisons
("BOP"). The MCC is one of several facilities used to house
inmates who have been charged with federal crimes in the Southern
District of New York, but who are awaiting trial. The MCC employs
correctional officers, and their primary duty is to ensure the
care, custody, and control of the inmate population of the MCC.
facility located in Manhattan that is run by the Bureau of Prisons
("BOP"). The MCC is one of several facilities used to house
inmates who have been charged with federal crimes in the Southern
District of New York, but who are awaiting trial. The MCC employs
correctional officers, and their primary duty is to ensure the
care, custody, and control of the inmate population of the MCC.
3. TOVA NOEL, the defendant, has been employed as a
federal correctional officer at the MCC since approximately 2016.
As of August 2019, NOEL's primary assignment was the SHU. On
August 9, 2019, NOEL worked a regular shift from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
in the SHU, and then worked an overtime shift from 12 a.m. to 6
a.m. on August 10, 2019, also in the SHU.
federal correctional officer at the MCC since approximately 2016.
As of August 2019, NOEL's primary assignment was the SHU. On
August 9, 2019, NOEL worked a regular shift from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
in the SHU, and then worked an overtime shift from 12 a.m. to 6
a.m. on August 10, 2019, also in the SHU.
4. MICHAEL THOMAS, the defendant, has been employed as
a correctional officer at the MCC by the BOP since approximately
2007. Beginning in approximately 2013, THOMAS was assigned to work
as a materials handler supervisor, which is a non-custodial
position, although THOMAS regularly worked overtime shifts as a
a correctional officer at the MCC by the BOP since approximately
2007. Beginning in approximately 2013, THOMAS was assigned to work
as a materials handler supervisor, which is a non-custodial
position, although THOMAS regularly worked overtime shifts as a
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correctional officer. THOMAS worked an overtime shift in the SHU
on August 10, 2019, from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
on August 10, 2019, from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
5. As detailed herein, Jeffrey Epstein was
incarcerated at the MCC between his arrest on July 6, 2019, and
his suicide on August 10, 2019. Epstein was detained pending trial
in the Southern District of New York on sex trafficking charges.
incarcerated at the MCC between his arrest on July 6, 2019, and
his suicide on August 10, 2019. Epstein was detained pending trial
in the Southern District of New York on sex trafficking charges.
THE MCC AND INSTITUTIONAL COUNTS
6. The MCC, which houses approximately 750 inmates at
any time, assigns inmates to various housing units within the MCC,
including general population and the SHU. The SHU is located on
the ninth floor of the MCC and access to the SHU is controlled by
a single locked door, which can only be opened remotely by an
officer in the MCC's centralized control center (the "Control
Center"). Within the SHU, inmates are assigned to six separate
tiers, each of which can be accessed only via a single locked door
to which the correctional officers assigned to the SHU have keys.
Each tier has eight cells, each of which can house either one or
two prisoners, and each individual cell - which is made of cement
and metal - is accessed only through a single, locked door, to
which correctional officers assigned to the SHU have keys.
any time, assigns inmates to various housing units within the MCC,
including general population and the SHU. The SHU is located on
the ninth floor of the MCC and access to the SHU is controlled by
a single locked door, which can only be opened remotely by an
officer in the MCC's centralized control center (the "Control
Center"). Within the SHU, inmates are assigned to six separate
tiers, each of which can be accessed only via a single locked door
to which the correctional officers assigned to the SHU have keys.
Each tier has eight cells, each of which can house either one or
two prisoners, and each individual cell - which is made of cement
and metal - is accessed only through a single, locked door, to
which correctional officers assigned to the SHU have keys.
7. Correctional officers assigned to guard inmates at
the MCC are required to conduct institution-wide counts of inmates
at regular, scheduled intervals to ensure that each inmate is alive
the MCC are required to conduct institution-wide counts of inmates
at regular, scheduled intervals to ensure that each inmate is alive
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and accounted for within the MCC (the "institutional count"). On
weekdays, the MCC conducts five institutional counts at 4 p.m., 10
p.m., 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. Performing an institutional
count is one of the most basic and essential aspects of a
correctional officer's job, and the count is one of the most basic
and essential functions of daily operation of the MCC. Two
officers are required to complete the institutional count for each
housing unit, including the SHU, and are further required to
document their performance of the count on an official MCC form
called a count slip.
weekdays, the MCC conducts five institutional counts at 4 p.m., 10
p.m., 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. Performing an institutional
count is one of the most basic and essential aspects of a
correctional officer's job, and the count is one of the most basic
and essential functions of daily operation of the MCC. Two
officers are required to complete the institutional count for each
housing unit, including the SHU, and are further required to
document their performance of the count on an official MCC form
called a count slip.
8. Specifically, on the count slip, both correctional
officers are required to fill in the date and time the count was
performed, write the total number of inmates physically present in
the unit counted, and then each sign the form. The forms are then
collected and delivered to the Control Center, where they are
compared to the institution's inmate roster to ensure that each
inmate is accounted for. Only after all the count slips are
collected from each housing unit, and the numbers on the slips are
matched to the institution's inmate roster, can the institutional
count be deemed "cleared" or completed. Records of each
institutional count, including the count slips, are provided to a
supervising official and retained by the MCC.
officers are required to fill in the date and time the count was
performed, write the total number of inmates physically present in
the unit counted, and then each sign the form. The forms are then
collected and delivered to the Control Center, where they are
compared to the institution's inmate roster to ensure that each
inmate is accounted for. Only after all the count slips are
collected from each housing unit, and the numbers on the slips are
matched to the institution's inmate roster, can the institutional
count be deemed "cleared" or completed. Records of each
institutional count, including the count slips, are provided to a
supervising official and retained by the MCC.
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9. In addition to the institutional count,
correctional officers assigned to the SHU are required to complete
rounds every thirty minutes ("30-minute rounds"). Like the
institutional counts, the 30-minute rounds are conducted to ensure
that each inmate is alive and accounted for within their cell.
Correctional officers working in the SHU are required to complete
a form, which is reviewed and signed by their supervisor,
documenting the date and time of each 30-minute round in each tier
of the SHU.
correctional officers assigned to the SHU are required to complete
rounds every thirty minutes ("30-minute rounds"). Like the
institutional counts, the 30-minute rounds are conducted to ensure
that each inmate is alive and accounted for within their cell.
Correctional officers working in the SHU are required to complete
a form, which is reviewed and signed by their supervisor,
documenting the date and time of each 30-minute round in each tier
of the SHU.
EPSTEIN'S PRIOR APPARENT SUICIDE ATTEMPT
10. On July 6, 2019, inmate Jeffrey Epstein was
arrested and detained at the MCC on sex trafficking charges. On
July 10, 2019, Epstein was assigned to the SHU due to, among other
things, risk factors for suicidality and safety concerns.
arrested and detained at the MCC on sex trafficking charges. On
July 10, 2019, Epstein was assigned to the SHU due to, among other
things, risk factors for suicidality and safety concerns.
11. On July 23, 2019, while housed in the SHU, MCC
officers responded to an emergency call, and found Epstein on the
floor of his cell with a strip of bedsheet around his neck. MICHAEL
THOMAS, the defendant, was one of the MCC officers who responded
to the incident. Although Epstein claimed that he did not recall
how the sheet ended up around his neck, Epstein was subsequently
transferred out of SHU to suicide watch. Inmates assigned to
suicide watch are housed in a cell in the hospital wing floor, and
officers responded to an emergency call, and found Epstein on the
floor of his cell with a strip of bedsheet around his neck. MICHAEL
THOMAS, the defendant, was one of the MCC officers who responded
to the incident. Although Epstein claimed that he did not recall
how the sheet ended up around his neck, Epstein was subsequently
transferred out of SHU to suicide watch. Inmates assigned to
suicide watch are housed in a cell in the hospital wing floor, and
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